July 13, 2022
NDMU’s Refugee Scholarship Provides Hope, Opportunity to Afghan Sisters
NDMU's Archway, with the University Academic Building in the background

For Nowrasta and her younger sister, Nastaran, the past 10 months have been filled with turmoil and uncertainty.

The two sisters, along with their father and two additional siblings, were among the thousands of citizens from Afghanistan evacuated out of the country after the Taliban regained control last August. Their mother was only recently able to join them, and efforts to bring their oldest sister over to the United States continue to this day.

That experience, along with all of the struggles that come with an unexpected transition to a new country, has led to many dark days for the family. Nowrasta and Nastaran, however, received a welcome update from NDMU this spring, when they learned that they would be the first two recipients of the school’s Afghan Refugee Scholarship.

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Nadia Abi (L) and Erika Gutierrez (R)
Two Rising Juniors Named Clare Boothe Luce Scholars

A pair of rising juniors were recently selected as the recipients of full-tuition scholarships through the Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM.

Nadia Abi ’24 and Erika Gutierrez ’24 have earned scholarships to cover tuition, fees, and books for their final two years on campus, and they will also be eligible for additional academic and career support during that time period. NDMU’s Clare Boothe Luce Scholars were selected based on their potential for success in chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computer science, as well as financial need and leadership involvement.

The Heritage Tour group at Mother Caroline's grave in Milwaukee
NDMU Students Participate in SSND Heritage Tour

Two NDMU students had the unique opportunity to retrace the steps of some of the first School Sisters of Notre Dame to visit the United States during a week-long trip which included stops in several major cities.

Kristina Pickering ’22 and Jensen Armstrong ’24, both members of the Morrissy Honors Program, were joined by program director Dr. Evelyn Spratt and Sister Therese Marie Dougherty, Ph.D. ’60, on the SSND Heritage Tour. The trip, which took place from May 23-30, included stops in New York City, Rochester, Niagara Falls, Chicago and Milwaukee.

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Biology Professor Selected for Leading Women Under 40 Award

A picture of Dr. Kerr teaching next to the NDMU logo

A microbiologist and associate professor at NDMU was selected for a 2022 Leading Women Under 40 award by The Daily Record.

Dr. Jennifer Kerr has conducted original research to advance knowledge in the microbiology field and to support future scientists in Maryland, the nation, and the world. The Daily Record’s Leading Women Under 40 honors women aged 40 or younger for their career accomplishments. A panel of judges selected the winners based on their professional experience, community involvement, and a commitment to inspiring change.

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BSN, MSN Graduate Selected as Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center’s Nurse of the Year

Lyndsay Rehak with her Nurse of the Year award

Only three years after her receiving her BSN from NDMU, Lyndsay Wright ’19, M’22 was recognized in May as the 2022 Nurse of the Year at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore.

Wright, who was also announced as the Medical-Surgical Service Line Nurse of the Year before adding the hospital’s top nursing honor, never truly left NDMU after earning her bachelor’s. She immediately became a clinical instructor in the undergraduate program, and she continues to teach in that capacity this summer. After completing her master’s in Leadership in Nursing Education last semester, Wright will join the School of Nursing as a full-time faculty member in the fall while continuing to assist part-time at Franklin Square.

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France-Merrick Foundation Funds NDMU’s First-generation Student Scholarship

Three women students sit together outside in front of a brick building

A new $500,000 grant from the France-Merrick Foundation will establish the first endowed scholarship designated for NDMU students who are the first in their families to attend college. 
 
The France-Merrick Foundation Endowed Scholarship for First-generation Students will increase access to higher education for a growing student population at NDMU. Once activated, the program will award students up to a $25,000 annual scholarship. The first students selected for the scholarship will enroll in the 2024-25 academic year.

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NDMU’s Award-Winning PDS Program Wraps Up Successful 2021-22 Academic Year

Members of Notre Dame's PDS program at Woodlawn High School

NDMU’s teacher preparation program, which was recognized earlier this year as one of the top development programs in the country, continued to provide countless academic and professional growth opportunities for both NDMU students and participating local schools during the 2021-22 academic year.

The School of Education’s Professional Development Schools (PDS) Partnership Network formally partnered with 13 public schools across five different school systems in 2021-22 to develop teacher interns, provide professional development to school-based faculty, and support school improvement goals.

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School News
Student/Faculty/Staff Updates

 

School of Education 

On June 15, 2022, Ryan Schaaf, associate professor of Educational Technology presented the interactive hybrid session Gaming and Society: An Honors Course at the 2022 Serious Play Conference. The session chronicled the experience of developing and delivering the IDS 374 Gaming and Society course for the Morrisey Honors Program.

 

Zeina Al-Zaiim with her hybrid fellowship cohort in Norway

Zeina Al-Zaiim D’23 (front row, fourth from left in the picture above), a PhD student in the School of Education and graduate assistant for the Mission & Ministry and Service & Community Engagement offices at NDMU, recently returned from a trip to Norway through her fellowship with the Institute for Global Engagement’s Center for Women, Faith & Leadership.

Zeina and her cohort of women of faith leaders representing countries from all over the world gathered for a variety of workshops focused on leadership development. Session topics included Composing Your Story, The Three Roles of Public Speaking, Religion, Gender & Identity Dialogue, Personal Leadership Development Planning, Promoting your Leadership through Social Media, Negotiation Methods, and Strategy to Reality, and the group also had an opportunity to network with local women’s and religious organizations. On the last four days of the trip, the group flew from the capital, Oslo, to Bergen to practice the Art of Therapy & Meditation, which included self-care, a spa, and a cruise from Bergen to Modalen, where they saw stunning mountains with waterfalls and untouched nature.

A photo from the cohort's cruise in Norway

Zeina Al-Zaiim with her hybrid fellowship cohort in Norway

Save the Dates

New Student Move-In Day

Friday, August 26 | All-Day

Returning Student Move-In Day

Saturday, August 27 | All-Day

First Day of Fall Semester Classes

Monday, August 29 | All-Day

Alumnae and Alumni Weekend

Friday, September 30 - Sunday, October 2

Registration for Alumnae and Alumni Weekend (formerly Reunion Weekend) opens on July 1 and closes on September 18 at midnight. Learn more about the planned activities.

Academic Calendar

View the latest version of the Academic Calendar for 2021-2022 and 2022-23.

NDMU Events

Check out the NDMU Events calendar below for all upcoming events.